Propping up the bar has never been so dreamy. From beachfront beanbags to hipster hangouts, Canggu's best bars have it all - world-class concoctions included.
Already well known for its epic cafes, boundary-pushing restaurants and dramatic black sand beaches, we figured it was high time to give you the run down on where to party amongst the rice paddies of Canggu – because life’s always better at the bar. So pull up a stool – or a sandy bean bag – and settle in for the long haul, because Canggu’s best bars are ready to shake, stir and serve some of the best sips around. From poolside cocktails and sundowners by the beach, to underground clubs and hidden speakeasies, here’s where to drink, dance and party into the night in not-so-sleepy Canggu.
BEST COCKTAIL BARS IN CANGGU
Lacalita Bar y Cocina – best for a Mexican fiesta & epic margaritas
A large and breezy island bar on the buzzing Batu Bolong strip, a boozy sesh at Lacalita Bar y Cocina should be top of your to-do list when you’re in the ‘Gu. With its technicolored interiors and always-welcoming vibes, it is the place to fill up on authentic Mexican fare alongside a cracking drinks list. You can’t go wrong with a good ol’ margarita here, but take your pick from the extensive drinks menu if you fancy something a little different (anything that uses their famous jalapeño-infused tequila would be our top pick). And remember, happy hour is 2-for-1 from 5-7pm Monday to Saturday, and 2-for-1 Bloody Marys all day ’til 7pm on Sundays – arriba!
Lacalita, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong No.68, Canggu, p. +62 822 4731 2217, e. info@lacalacabali.com. Open daily 9am – midnight.
Ji Terrace by the Sea – best for sunset cocktails
At Ji Terrace by the Sea, the 180-degree views of Canggu beach and a killer cocktail list are what makes this bar sur mer such a gem. Just like the first-rate food, the drinks here are largely Asian infusions – sweet, savoury and seductive. Their fine wines and choice of sakes are also a huge draw card, so grab your glass and saunter up to the upper level, where the talented roster of DJs spin the best tunes from sunset ’til late.
Ji Terrace by the Sea, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu Beach, p. +62 361 473 1701 / +62 81 239 652 695, e. ji@tuguhotels.com. Open daily ’til 11.30pm.
The Back Room – best for cocktail sipping in style
Cunningly concealed out the back of Mason (one of Canggu’s very best restaurants) The Back Room is an underground and obscenely suave bar and lounge space with New York-style leather booths, a pool table, low sofas, and even lower lighting. Totally air-conditioned, this cocktail bar is a welcome reprieve from Bali’s balmy climate, making it a perfect place for a nightcap and to linger until late in an atmosphere that’s dripping with style.
The Back Room at Mason, Jl Batu Bolong No. 83, Canggu, e. info@masonbali.com. Open nightly ‘til 2am.
The Slow – best for artsy tipples
With its long, alluring bar set inside an art-filled space, The Slow is Canggu’s sophisticated and internationally-recognised watering hole that brings in Bali’s cool crowds. With a vibe that screams “Sunday afternoon on Venice Beach”, this highly-coveted boutique destination attracts beautiful people from all over the world (thanks to the superstar couple at the wheel), and with its curated list of ingredient-focused elixirs, we’ll happily join them. Top tip: the house Batur Negroni here is next level.
The Slow, Jl Batu Bolong No. 97, p. +62 361 2099 000, e. res@theslow.id. Open daily ’til 11pm.
Pablo’s – best for Ladies Night
All hail Señor Escobar! Bet you’d never have guessed that the infamous cartel head hombre is now running a bar in Canggu. Well, not really of course, it’s just named after the eponymous narcotrafficante and inspired by the mean streets of Medellín – all pastel colours and cantina-chic. Expect south American Latino vibes, cool Columbian street food on the menu, and after dark (especially on the big Wednesday party night) it’s all about house and hip-hop beats. And the kicker? Every Saturday night is Ladies Night! Pablo’s, you had us at hola…
Pablo’s, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong #58, Canggu, p. +62 812 3720 9220, e. pabloscanggu@gmail.com. Open daily ’til midnight.
Black Cat Mini Mart – best for grungy, speakeasy vibes
Remember when that little girl opened a wardrobe and stepped into Narnia? Well, Black Cat is a little bit like that, but instead of a wardrobe, you’ll need to open a fridge door from within a run-down Mini Mart, and instead of Narnia inside, you’ll find a grungy speakeasy-style dive bar awash with polished concrete, neon lights, kitsch chandeliers and Canggu’s cool crowds. The drinks are always strong, the music’s always pumping, and the pool table is always ready to be played or danced on…
Black Cat Mini Mart, Jl Subak (on the shortcut road), Canggu. Open daily ’til 1am.
Deus Ex Machina – best for biker vibes & live music
With its gallery space, motorbike garage, skate ramp, photo studio and surf shop all rolled into one, Canggu’s famous Temple of Enthusiasm is all things to all people. At the beating heart of this multi-purpose venue is the bar, which serves up icy cold beers and even colder cocktails (try the coconut ice ball shots) for the hipster, surf & custom-bike brigade. Daytime hangs, live music and even evening movie viewings mean that it’s always a good time to swing by this Canggu emporium of cool. And psst – Sunday is the big party night here, when Canggu’s cool crowds sway to rocking live bands.
Deus Ex Machina, Jl Batu Mejan 8, Canggu, p. +62 811 388 150, e. info@id.deuscustoms.com. Open daily ’til midnight.
Peekaboo – best for boutique cocktails & great bites
Peekaboo – we see you! In fact, how could we not, with those street-style vibes and concrete walls decked out in bright, Banksy-esque graffiti? But don’t get this Canggu haunt wrong – despite the grungy attitude, this place is all about boutique cocktails and really great bites, wrapped up in raw interiors reminiscent of downtown Paris. Try the Sour Lemongrass cocktail, made with Vodka, orange liqueur, amaretto, lemongrass, egg white & star fruit – and look out for the live art demos and old-school hip hop nights.
Peekaboo, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong No. 70, Canggu, p. +62 823 3905 9773, e. contact@peekaboocanggu.com.
BEST BEACH BARS IN CANGGU
The Lawn – best for oceanfront lounging
Sitting two-storeys tall with a beachfront infinity pool and some of the best cocktails and gourmet bites around, The Lawn is Canggu’s oceanfront trailblazer that’s become a barfly favourite. Its stylish house-infused cocktails bring in crowds of beautiful people, lounging beneath boho umbrellas and soaking up Batu Bolong’s hipster surf scene. By day, sip on their Spiced Colada or Kelapa Mojito, then as the sun sets, secure your front-row seat at one of Bali’s best sunset spots. Top tip: swing by on a Friday night when Canggu’s finest flock to The Lawn for one of the biggest weekend parties in town.
The Lawn, Jl Pura Dalem, Canggu, p. +62 361 335 1055, e. hello@thelawncanggu.com. Open daily 10am – 11pm (1am on Fridays).
La Brisa – best for boho-boozing by the beach
From the same family as Laguna, Favela, Sicilia and Plancha, La Brisa is the quirky-yet-cool beachfront destination from the “La” family, and the ever-famous boho-beanbag beach club on Echo Beach. Best enjoyed sans sandals and with a long drink in hand, La Brisa is a bohemian hub of rustic Spanish dishes, delish cocktails, multiple pools and a hot soundtrack to top it all off. Saturday is the big party night here, when you’ll likely find yourself dancing beneath the palms ’til the wee hours.
La Brisa, Jl Pantai Batu Mejan Gg. La Brisa, Echo Beach, Canggu, p. +62 81 139 466 66, e. bookings@labrisabali.com. Open daily ’til 11pm.
Old Man’s – best for happy hour & rowdy parties
Arguably the catalyst for what is now booming Batu Bolong, Old Man’s is a buzzy, surfie-cool bar with beer-garden vibes that continues to pack ‘em in every day of the week. Cruisey drinks, beachy fare, wicked value for money, live music and frequent late night DJ sessions all add up to a compulsory stop here during your ‘Gu bundles. If you’re brave enough, head down mid-week for Dirty Old Wednesday when beer pong and late night dancing on the tables is the order of the evening. Otherwise, swing by at sunset for 2-4-1 drinks from 5pm – 6pm every evening, and keep your eyes peeled for the big name artists regularly making their way to the beachside stage…
Old Man’s, Jl Batu Bolong, Canggu, p. +62 361 846 9158. Open daily ’til 1am.
La Laguna – best for the ‘gram
Like stepping into a bohemian wonderland, La Laguna is a beachy feast for all the senses. Gypsy caravans and lush tropical gardens guide you toward this ramshackle-chic restaurant and bar, overlooking a peaceful lagoon right on Berawa beach. An Instagrammer’s dream, everything here is picture perfect – particularly their famous bamboo bridge that leads straight onto the sand. Meanwhile, the food is as superb as you’d expect from the unstoppable La family (the guys behind Plancha, Favela, Sicilia and now Brisa) and the carefully crafted cocktails go down an absolute treat at any time of the day.
La Laguna, Jl Pura Kayu Putih, Pantai Berawa, Canggu, p. +62 81 236 382 272, e. bookings@lalagunabali.com. Open daily ’til midnight.
Finns Beach Club – best for pool parties
Everyone’s favourite bamboo beach club, you really can’t go wrong with a tipple or three at this Canggu legend – at any time of the day. With a whopping nine bars to choose from (including two swim-up bars) you can booze your way through brunch, swing by for the lunchtime shift (AKA the daytime pool party) or settle in for sundown with one of their fabulous cocktail creations. The beers (and ciders) are always cold, the sun-lounging options seem endless (especially when you consider the VIP beach club next door) and the view over Berawa Beach ain’t too shabby either…
Finns Beach Club, Jl Pantai Berawa, Canggu, p. +62 361 844 6327, e. info@finnsbeachclub.com. Open daily ’til 11pm.
BEST LATE NIGHT BARS & CLUBS IN CANGGU
Vault – best for Berlin-style vibes
One step into this underground club and you could easily be in Berlin’s ever-famous Berghain. Like a secret crypt that every dance and hip-hop fan seems to know about, Vault is a cocktail bunker that packs in the punters every night of the week – especially on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights when the super-club comes to life. With crowds of party-goers flocking here for the electronic beats, Euro vibes and ultra-mod interiors, expect to be dancing into the very wee hours here.
Vault, Jl Pantai Berawa No.99, Berawa – Canggu, p. +62 811 3987 007. Open daily from 8pm – 3am.
Lost City – best for late night clubbing
Kuta, is that you?! Lost City is the first ever nightclub in Canggu that’s brought Kuta’s party scene to Canggu. Hidden away in Echo Beach, it’s a wild two-level nightclub with state-of-the-art lighting and audio systems, artistic design elements, multiple nooks for socialising, and DJs spinning all sorts of tunes (from house and hip-hop to techno and groove) to keep your dancing shoes moving all night long.
Lost City, p. +62 813 3935 8122, e. info@lostcitybali.com. Open Thurs – Sat 11pm – 4am.
Pretty Poison – best for skaters
Bringing a touch of retro California to Bali, you’ll want to dust off your skateboard for a sesh at this no-frills backyard bar. With a skate bowl in the centre, you can tear up the tarmac on your board, or just grab a drink and watch the show from the sidelines every day from 4pm onwards. Also on the agenda: live music, DJ sets, exhibitions, movie nights and more – but it’s Thursdays and Saturdays when things get really wild…
Pretty Poison, Jl Subak Canggu, Canggu, p. +62 81 246 229 340, e. info@prettypoisonbar.com. Open daily ’til midnight.
Gimme Shelter – best for the rockers
Go full Jagger at Canggu’s most rowdy rock’n’roll bar, where live music and lashings of booze ensure a night to remember (or rather, forget). A rotating list of talented bands hit the stage on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and if you fancy yourself as the next Janis Joplin, then get down for Monday’s open mic nights and crank the amps up to 11.
Gimme Shelter, Jl Lingkar Nelayan, Canggu, p. +62 81 238 048 867. Open daily ’til 3am.
Sand Bar – best for barefoot beach parties
The first and still the most iconic watering hole that’s actually on the sand (right out front of Old Mans), Sand Bar is a great spot to end a wild night out with an even wilder finale. Like a debaucherous mythical creature that only pops up after dark, Sand Bar is the after party of all after parties, kicking off post-midnight and well into the wee hours. Amateur party animals need not apply. This one’s for the die-hard booze crews.
Sand Bar, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong, Echo Beach, Canggu, p. +62 81 237 651 816. Open from midnight ’til late.
See you at the bar, Honeys!
